Ski binding with ski brake

ABSTRACT

A ski binding which is provided with a ski brake for slowing down or stopping a ski which has separated from the boot of a skier, comprising a brake member pivotable about an axis adjacent to and along one lateral edge of the ski and in an inactive nonbraking position directly or indirectly engaging with the lower side of the boot sole and especially with the lower side of a sole plate which is separated from the ski only if a strong force acts upon the boot, and spring means for pivoting the brake member to its braking position when released from the boot.

8/1962 Gertschn l 280/11.13 B

a, I I 2 21' Q I United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,794,336

Sittmann 1 Feb. 26, 1974 [54] SKI BINDING WITH SKI BRAKE 3,433,494 3/1969 Hinterholzer 280/1 1.13 B

[75] lnventorz' Brigitte Sittmann, Stuttgart, I OREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS m ny 4 1,198,872 12/1959 France 280/1 1.13 B [73] Assigneez Vereinigte Bagubeschlagfabriken 349,911 12/1960 Switzerland 280/1 1.13 B s 3' T g' Leonberg Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts near u ermany Assistant ExaminerDavid M. Mitchell [22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig and Antonelli [21] Appl. No.: 190,352 [57] ABSTRACT g A ski binding which is provided with a ski brake for Foreign Application Priority Data slowing down or stopping a ski which has separated Oct. 23, 1970 Germany. G 70 39 190.1 from the boot of a skier, comprising a brake member pivotable about an axis adjacent to and along one lat- [52] U.S. Cl 280/ll.13 B, 280/11.35 K eral edge of the ski and in an inactive nonbraking po- [51] Ln}. .......,...A63c 7 l0 sitio'n directly or indirectly engaging with the lower [58] FiJdBTSEarc hLTSO/l 1.13 B, 1 1.13 C, l 1.35 C, side of the boot sole and especially with the lower side 280/11.35 K, 11.13 W of a sole plate which is separated from the ski only if H a strong force acts upon the boot, and spring means [56] References Cited for pivoting the brake member to its braking position UNITED STATES PATENTS when released from the boot. 3,048,418 24 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SKI BINDING WITH SKI BRAKE The present invention relates to a ski binding which is provided with a ski brake for the purpose of slowing down or stopping a ski which, for example, due to a fall of the skier, has separated from a boot of the skier and slides down a hill and might then be lost or even endanger or injure other skiers. This ski brake generally comprises a brake member which is' pivotable about a hinge axis and is normally held in an inactive or nonbraking position, for example, by means of a locking projection which engages directly or indirectly with the lower side of the boot sole, while when it disengages from the boot sole, the brake member is pivoted by spring action to its braking position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ski brake as above described which produces a reliable braking effect and is designed so as to be of a simple, inexpensive and compact construction which also does not interfere with the proper operation of the binding or the normal use of the ski. i

It is another object of the invention to design the ski brake in such a manner that, when a skier lifts his foot normally out of the binding, the brake will remain in its inactive position under its spring tension and will only be pivoted to its braking position if an excessive force occurs, especially in the upward direction, for example, due to a forward fall of the skier.

For attaining these objects, it is an important-feature of the invention that the hinge axis of the brake member extends closely adjacent to ahd'substantially along one lateral edge of the ski and preferably above the upper surface of the ski so that when the ski brake is in its inactive or nonbraking position, no parts of the brake project over this lateral edge of the ski.

Another feature of theinvention consists in mounting the brake member on the ski by means of a part of the binding, for example, a sole plate, which holds the boot on the ski and normally remains on the ski and is partly or entirely severed from the latter only if an excessive force acts upon the boot, while for intentionally removing the boot from the ski at the end of a run an additional releasing device .is provided, which may be actuated independentlyof the safety release device of the ski binding. l I

For attaining the strongest possible braking effect, the brake member is preferably made of a shovellike shape and designed so as partly to enclose a part of the binding, especially a housing part of a heel supporting device, when it is in its inactive position.

These and additional features of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a ski brake according to the invention which is mounted on a heel supporting device, said section being, taken along the linel1ofFIG.3';-'

' FIG. 2 shows a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows acrosssection which is taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1; while FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the brake lever of the ski brake.

The ski brake according to the invention may be mounted on a toe supporting device or, as illustrated in the drawings, on a heel supporting device of a ski binding. A sole plate 11 which is preferably elastic and adapted to be lifted about a transverse forward axis, (not shown) of the ski carries boot holding means in the form of a heel depressor 12 which engages, for example, over the upper side of the boot sole. This heel depressor 12 is pivotably connected to the sole plate 11, for example, by means of a pair of arms 13 to permit it to be lifted and it is held in its depressed position on the ski by a locking lever 14 and, if desired, by additional spring means. This locking lever 14 is pivotably mounted on a bearing bracket 15 which is rigidly connected to the sole plate 11, and lever 14 is held in its locking position, for example, by spring action. Sole plate 11 is, in turn, pressed by a safety release device or'locking device 16 against the ski by means of a locking lever 18 which may, for example, likewise be acted upon by a spring pressure. Locking lever 18 acts upon a roller 17 which is rotatably mounted on bearing bracket 15 and adapted at the occurrence of a strong force, especially an upwardly directed force, to be pressed back against the locking action so as to release the roller 17 so that sole plate 11 together with the depressor l2 and the boot of the skier may move away from the ski in the direction of the arrow x. Locking part, for example, a housing part, of the heel supporting device or of the locking device 16 of the latter. Hinge tube 21 may be made, for example, of a strip of sheet material which is bent to a tubular shape and the two flat horizontal ends 21a of which are applied on each other and secured to plate 22 by screws, rivets or any other means. I

Brake member 20 comprises a shovellike or shellshaped brake part 23 which in the normal inactive or non-braking position of the brake extends from one side over the heel supporting device or its locking device 16, and it further comprises a hinge pin part 24 which may have a cylindrical, square or other cross section. It is either rigidly, for example, integrally, connected to the brake member 20 and rotatably connected to the hinge tube 21 or vice'versa, it is nonrotatably connected to the hinge tube, while the bifurcated arms 25a and 25b of brake member 20 are rotatably mounted by eyes on the hinge pin part 24.

The hinge pin part 24 of brake member 20 or the hinge pin which is inserted into the latter has an extension 26 which projects beyond the arm 25b and over which a coil spring 27 is slipped one end of which is secured to the supporting plate '22 or to the heel supporting device, while the other end of ,this spring which is then under tension is "connected to the extension 26 of the hinge pin or to the brake member 20 so that the tightened spring 27 exerts a torque in the direction of the arrow 2 upon brake member 20 and thereby tends to pivot the latter about the axis y y against the surface of the snow to the position 20' as shown in dotand-dash lines in FIG. 3.

A platelike projection 28 on brake member 20 is normally held by the sole plate 11 or by the bearing upper surface of the ski and in its longitudinal direction adjacent to one lateral edge of the ski so that, when the ski brake is in its inactive position as shown, no parts of the brake project over the lateral edge of the ski as seen from above.

The brake remains in this inactive position even when the skier steps intentionally out of the binding since the sole plate 11 remains in the position as shown in FIG. 1 in which it is pressed against the ski and lockedby the locking lever 18 of the safety release means. Thus, only the heel depressor 12 is then released upwardly to an extent which is limited, for example, by a stop member, by being unlocked from the locking lever 14 which may be actuated independently of the safety release means. If, however, a strong force occurs which acts in the upward direction upon the boot heel, for example, due to a forward fall of the skier, and if the heel depressor '12 together with the sole plate 11 is thereby lifted in the direction of the arrow x due to the fact that the locking lever 18 is forced toward the rear against the action of the locking spring at the inside of the locking device 16, the projection 28 of brake member 20 will also be released. Under the action of spring 27 which was held under tension while brake member 20 was in its inactive position, brake member 20 is then pivoted from this inactive position in the direction of arrow z to the position 20' and can thus exert on the snow surface the desired braking effect upon the ski after the latter has separated from the boot.

7 Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

claim is: 4

l. A ski binding having a ski brake for braking a ski on a snow surface after the ski has separated from a boot of a skier comprising:

a first part connectible to a ski boot so as to be movable with said boot during movement of said boot from a normal skiing position on said ski to a nonskiing position,

a second part lockingly engageable with said first part when said first part and boot are in said skiing posi-' tion,

' safety release means for holding said second part in locking engagement with said first part to maintain said first part and boot in said skiing position when normal skiing forces act upon said boot, said safety release means including means for automatically releasing said second part from said first part in response to predetermined excessive forces on said boot so as to permit said boot and first part to move away from said skiing position,

a brake member,

bearing means for pivotably mounting said brake member on said ski adjacent to and along a longitudinal edge thereof so as to be pivotable about an Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what 1 axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski,

resilient means acting on said brake member to pivot said brake member from an inactive non-braking position toward a braking position,

and brake member locking means movable with said first part for locking said brake member in said non-braking position when said first part is in said normal skiing position and for permitting movement of said brake member to said braking position when said first part is away from said normal skiing position, said brake member locking means being engageable with a locking projection connected to a pivot shaft forming part of said brake member for locking said brake member in said non-braking po-' sltlon,

wherein said brake member and said safety release means are positioned on said ski at the same end of a boot being held by said binding,

and wherein said brake member includes a substantially shovel shaped part having an inner surface in facing surrounding relationship to a portion of said safety release means when said brake member is in said non-braking position and an outer surface which is engageable with the snow when said brake member is in said braking position, said brake member being configured such that the entire longitudinal extent of said inner surface of said shovel shaped part is spaced from and in facing relationship to portions of said safety release means when said brake member is in said non-braking position.

2. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said safety release means extend above said ski in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

3. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said axis extends substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski.

4. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is connected to said ski boot by independently actuable release means which accommodate intentional separation of said boot from said first part independently of the safety release means such that said boot can be intentionally separated from said first part while said safety release means maintains said first part in a normal skiing position with the brake member in said non-braking position.

5. A ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said independently actuable release means includes a heel holding member engageable with the upper sideof a boot heel and a locking member for releasably locking said heel holding member in a position in which said heel holding member holds said boot heel in position on said first part.

6. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means are mounted on the upper side of the ski, and wherein. both said bearing means and said brake member are disposed betweenthe lateral sides of the ski when said brake member is in said non-braking position.

7. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said locking projection is engageable with an upper surface of said ski and a lower surface of said first part when said first part and boot are in said skiing position.

8. A ski'binding according to claim 4, wherein said first part is a sole plate engageable with the bottom of said boot, and wherein said independently actuable release means is connected to saidsole plate for movement with said sole plate.

9. A ski binding according to claim 8, wherein said locking projection engages underneath said sole plate when said brake member is in said non-braking position.

10. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said safety release means includes a stationary portion fixed to said ski, and wherein said second part is connected to said stationary portion.

11. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is a roller, and wherein said brake member locking means is a bearing bracket for said roller.

12. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is connected to said ski boot by a locking lever engageable with a heel portion of said boot.

13. A ski binding according'to claim 1, wherein said first part is a roller, and wherein said brake member locking means is a bearing bracket for said roller.

14. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, in which said bearing means includes a hinge strap bent so as to form a bearing bushing, a bearing pin extending through said bushing, and means for securing said hinge strap to a housing for said boot holding means.

15. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, wherein 'said resilient means includes a spring means connected to said brake member.

16. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 15, wherein said bearing means is arranged on said stationary part of said safety release means.

17. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 12, wherein independently actuable release means are provided for releasing said'boot independently of said safety release means.

18. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 17, wherein said independently actuable release means includes means for moving said locking lever out of engagement with said heel portion. 19. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 18, wherein said portion of-said movable means 21. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 10, wherein said brake member is constructed as a one-piece rigid member having one edge'portion pivotally mounted at said bearing means and an opposite edge portion including snow engaging surfaces for transferring braking forces from the snow to the ski during braking operations.

22. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 20, wherein said brake member includes a pivot shaft at said one edge portion, one end of said pivot shaft being surrounded by a helical spring which biases said brake member toward said braking position, the other end of said pivot shaft forming said locking projection. v

23. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 21, wherein said brake member includes a pivot shaft at said one edge portion, one end of said pivot shaft being surrounded by a helical spring which biases said brake member toward said braking position, the other end of said pivot shaft forming said locking projection.

24. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said first part is constructed as a sole plate having a liftable end, said brake member locking means. being fixed to the liftable end of said sole plate, and wherein independently actuable release means are attached to said liftable end of said sole plate for releasably connecting said boot to said sole plate independently of the position of said brake member locking means; 

1. A ski binding having a ski brake for braking a ski on a snow surface after the ski has separated from a boot of a skier comprising: a first part connectible to a ski boot so as to be movable with said boot during movement of said boot from a normal skiing position on said ski to a non-skiing position, a second part lockingly engageable with said first part when said first part and boot are in said skiing position, safety release means for holding said second part in locking engagement with said first part to maintain said first part and boot in said skiing position when normal skiing forces act upon said boot, said safety release means including means for automatically releasing said second part from said first part in response to predetermined excessive forces on said boot so as to permit said boot and first part to move away from said skiing position, a brake member, bearing means for pivotably mounting said brake member on said ski adjacent to and along a longitudinal edge thereof so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski, resilient means acting on said brake member to pivot said brake member from an inactive non-braking position toward a braking position, and brake member locking means movable with said first part for locking said brake member in said non-braking position when said first part is in said normal skiing position and for permitting movement of said brake member to said braking position when said first part is away from said normal skiing position, said brake member locking means being engageable with a locking projection connected to a pivot shaft forming part of said brake member for locking said brake member in said nonbraking position, wherein said brake member and said safety release means are positioned on said ski at the same end of a boot being held by said binding, and wherein said brake member includes a substantially shovel shaped part having an inner surface in facing surrounding relationship to a portion of said safety release means when said brake member is in said non-braking position and an outer surface which is engageable with the snow when said brake member is in said braking position, said brake member being configured such that the entire longitudinal extent of said inner surface of said shovel shaped part is spaced from and in facing relationship to portions of said safety release means when said brake member is in said non-braking position.
 2. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said safety release means extend above said ski in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 3. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said axis extends substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski.
 4. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is connected to said ski boot by independently actuable release means which accommodate intentional separation of said boot from said first part independently of the safety release means such that said boot can be intentionally separated from said first part while said safety release means maintains said first part in a normal skiing position with the brake member in said non-braking position.
 5. A ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said independently actuable release means includes a heel holding member engageable with the upper side of a boot heel and a locking member for releasably locking said heel holding member in a position in which said heel holding member holds said boot heel in position on said first part.
 6. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said bearing means are mounted on the upper side of the ski, and wherein both said bearing means and said brake member are disposed between the lateral sides of the ski when said brake member is in said non-braking position.
 7. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said locking projection is engageable with an upper surface of said ski and a lower surface of said first part when said first part and boot are in said skiing position.
 8. A ski binding according to claim 4, wherein said first part is a sole plate engageable with the bottom of said boot, and wherein said independently actuable release means is connected to said sole plate for movement with said sole plate.
 9. A ski binding according to claim 8, wherein said locking projection engages underneath said sole plate when said brake member is in said non-braking position.
 10. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said safety release means includes a stationary portion fixed to said ski, and wherein said second part is connected to said stationary portion.
 11. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is a roller, and wherein said brake member locking means is a bearing bracket for said roller.
 12. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is connected to said ski boot by a locking lever engageable with a heel portion of said boot.
 13. A ski binding according to claim 1, wherein said first part is a roller, and wherein said brake member locking means is a bearing bracket for said roller.
 14. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, in which said bearing means includes a hinge strap bent so as to form a bearing bushing, a bearing pin extending through said bushing, and means for securing said hinge strap to a housing for said boot holding means.
 15. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes a spring means connected to said brake member.
 16. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 15, wherein said bearing means is arranged on said stationary part of said safety release means.
 17. A ski binding having a sKi brake as defined in claim 12, wherein independently actuable release means are provided for releasing said boot independently of said safety release means.
 18. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 17, wherein said independently actuable release means includes means for moving said locking lever out of engagement with said heel portion.
 19. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 18, wherein said portion of said movable means which engages with said locking projection is a roller which is also directly engaged by said movable part of said safety release means.
 20. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said brake member is constructed as a one-piece rigid member having one edge portion pivotally mounted at said bearing means and an opposite edge portion including snow engaging surfaces for transferring braking forces from the snow to the ski during braking operations.
 21. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 10, wherein said brake member is constructed as a one-piece rigid member having one edge portion pivotally mounted at said bearing means and an opposite edge portion including snow engaging surfaces for transferring braking forces from the snow to the ski during braking operations.
 22. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 20, wherein said brake member includes a pivot shaft at said one edge portion, one end of said pivot shaft being surrounded by a helical spring which biases said brake member toward said braking position, the other end of said pivot shaft forming said locking projection.
 23. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 21, wherein said brake member includes a pivot shaft at said one edge portion, one end of said pivot shaft being surrounded by a helical spring which biases said brake member toward said braking position, the other end of said pivot shaft forming said locking projection.
 24. A ski binding having a ski brake as defined in claim 1, wherein said first part is constructed as a sole plate having a liftable end, said brake member locking means being fixed to the liftable end of said sole plate, and wherein independently actuable release means are attached to said liftable end of said sole plate for releasably connecting said boot to said sole plate independently of the position of said brake member locking means. 